diff --git a/src/main/scala/com/typesafe/sbt/packager/docker/DockerAlias.scala b/src/main/scala/com/typesafe/sbt/packager/docker/DockerAlias.scala
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9fb84ecc7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/scala/com/typesafe/sbt/packager/docker/DockerAlias.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+package com.typesafe.sbt.packager.docker
+
+/**
+  * This class represents a Docker alias.
+  * It generates a string in the form of {{{[REGISTRY_HOST/][USERNAME/]NAME[:TAG]}}},
+  * e.g. ''my-registry.com:1234/my-user/my-service:1.0.0'' or just ''my-service:1.0.0''.
+  * @param registryHost Optional hostname of the registry (including port if applicable)
+  * @param username Optional username or other qualifier
+  * @param name Name of the image, e.g. the artifact name
+  * @param tag Optional tag for the image, e.g. the version
+  */
+case class DockerAlias(registryHost: Option[String], username: Option[String], name: String, tag: Option[String]) {
+  protected val untagged = registryHost.map(_ + "/").getOrElse("") + username.map(_ + "/").getOrElse("") + name
+
+  /** Tag with (optional) given version */
+  val versioned = untagged + tag.map(":" + _).getOrElse("")
+  /** Tag with version 'latest' */
+  val latest = s"$untagged:latest"
+}
diff --git a/src/main/scala/com/typesafe/sbt/packager/docker/DockerPlugin.scala b/src/main/scala/com/typesafe/sbt/packager/docker/DockerPlugin.scala
index a2449fedb..0e1f3ae78 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/com/typesafe/sbt/packager/docker/DockerPlugin.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/com/typesafe/sbt/packager/docker/DockerPlugin.scala
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ object DockerPlugin extends AutoPlugin {
 
   object autoImport extends DockerKeys {
     val Docker = config("docker")
+
+    val DockerAlias = com.typesafe.sbt.packager.docker.DockerAlias
   }
 
   import autoImport._
@@ -74,10 +76,17 @@ object DockerPlugin extends AutoPlugin {
     dockerExposedPorts := Seq(),
     dockerExposedVolumes := Seq(),
     dockerRepository := None,
-    dockerTag := dockerRepository.value.map(_ + "/").getOrElse("") + packageName.value + ":" + version.value,
+    dockerAlias := DockerAlias(dockerRepository.value, None, packageName.value, Some(version.value)),
     dockerUpdateLatest := false,
     dockerEntrypoint := Seq("bin/%s" format executableScriptName.value),
     dockerCmd := Seq(),
+    dockerBuildOptions := Seq("--force-rm") ++ Seq("-t", dockerAlias.value.versioned) ++ (
+      if (dockerUpdateLatest.value)
+        Seq("-t", dockerAlias.value.latest)
+      else
+        Seq()
+    ),
+    dockerBuildCommand := Seq("docker", "build") ++ dockerBuildOptions.value ++ Seq("."),
     dockerCommands := {
       val dockerBaseDirectory = (defaultLinuxInstallLocation in Docker).value
       val user = (daemonUser in Docker).value
@@ -106,16 +115,16 @@ object DockerPlugin extends AutoPlugin {
       mappings ++= Seq(dockerGenerateConfig.value) pair relativeTo(target.value),
       name := name.value,
       packageName := packageName.value,
-      publishLocal <<= (stage, dockerTag, dockerUpdateLatest, streams) map {
-        (context, target, updateLatest, s) =>
-          publishLocalDocker(context, target, updateLatest, s.log)
+      publishLocal <<= (stage, dockerAlias, dockerBuildCommand, streams) map {
+        (context, alias, buildCommand, s) =>
+          publishLocalDocker(context, buildCommand, s.log)
+          s.log.info(s"Built image $alias")
       },
-      publish <<= (publishLocal, dockerTag, dockerUpdateLatest, streams) map {
-        (_, target, updateLatest, s) =>
-          publishDocker(target, s.log)
+      publish <<= (publishLocal, dockerAlias, dockerUpdateLatest, streams) map {
+        (_, alias, updateLatest, s) =>
+          publishDocker(alias.versioned, s.log)
           if (updateLatest) {
-            val name = target.substring(0, target.lastIndexOf(":")) + ":latest"
-            publishDocker(name, s.log)
+            publishDocker(alias.latest, s.log)
           }
       },
       sourceDirectory := sourceDirectory.value / "docker",
@@ -283,27 +292,14 @@ object DockerPlugin extends AutoPlugin {
     }
   }
 
-  def publishLocalDocker(context: File, tag: String, latest: Boolean, log: Logger): Unit = {
-    val cmd = Seq("docker", "build", "--force-rm", "-t", tag, ".")
-
-    log.debug("Executing Native " + cmd.mkString(" "))
+  def publishLocalDocker(context: File, buildCommand: Seq[String], log: Logger): Unit = {
+    log.debug("Executing Native " + buildCommand.mkString(" "))
     log.debug("Working directory " + context.toString)
 
-    val ret = Process(cmd, context) ! publishLocalLogger(log)
+    val ret = Process(buildCommand, context) ! publishLocalLogger(log)
 
     if (ret != 0)
       throw new RuntimeException("Nonzero exit value: " + ret)
-    else
-      log.info("Built image " + tag)
-
-    if (latest) {
-      val name = tag.substring(0, tag.lastIndexOf(":")) + ":latest"
-      val latestCmd = Seq("docker", "tag", tag, name)
-      Process(latestCmd).! match {
-        case 0 => log.info("Update Latest from image " + tag)
-        case n => sys.error("Failed to run docker tag")
-      }
-    }
   }
 
   def publishDocker(tag: String, log: Logger): Unit = {
diff --git a/src/main/scala/com/typesafe/sbt/packager/docker/DockerSpotifyClientPlugin.scala b/src/main/scala/com/typesafe/sbt/packager/docker/DockerSpotifyClientPlugin.scala
index 4e2436fbe..5044c2488 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/com/typesafe/sbt/packager/docker/DockerSpotifyClientPlugin.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/com/typesafe/sbt/packager/docker/DockerSpotifyClientPlugin.scala
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ object DockerSpotifyClientPlugin extends AutoPlugin {
 
   def publishLocalDocker = Def.task {
     val context = stage.value
-    val tag = dockerTag.value
+    val tag = dockerAlias.value.versioned
     val latest = dockerUpdateLatest.value
     val log = streams.value.log
 
diff --git a/src/main/scala/com/typesafe/sbt/packager/docker/Keys.scala b/src/main/scala/com/typesafe/sbt/packager/docker/Keys.scala
index 3f5f325e8..25cf1e4e5 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/com/typesafe/sbt/packager/docker/Keys.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/com/typesafe/sbt/packager/docker/Keys.scala
@@ -15,10 +15,12 @@ trait DockerKeys {
   val dockerExposedPorts = SettingKey[Seq[Int]]("dockerExposedPorts", "Ports exposed by Docker image")
   val dockerExposedVolumes = SettingKey[Seq[String]]("dockerExposedVolumes", "Volumes exposed by Docker image")
   val dockerRepository = SettingKey[Option[String]]("dockerRepository", "Repository for published Docker image")
-  val dockerTag = SettingKey[String]("dockerTag", "Docker tag for the built image")
+  val dockerAlias = SettingKey[DockerAlias]("dockerAlias", "Docker alias for the built image")
   val dockerUpdateLatest = SettingKey[Boolean]("dockerUpdateLatest", "Set to update latest tag")
   val dockerEntrypoint = SettingKey[Seq[String]]("dockerEntrypoint", "Entrypoint arguments passed in exec form")
   val dockerCmd = SettingKey[Seq[String]]("dockerCmd", "Docker CMD. Used together with dockerEntrypoint. Arguments passed in exec form")
+  val dockerBuildOptions = SettingKey[Seq[String]]("dockerBuildOptions", "Options used for the Docker build")
+  val dockerBuildCommand = SettingKey[Seq[String]]("dockerBuildCommand", "Command for building the Docker image")
 
   val dockerCommands = TaskKey[Seq[CmdLike]]("dockerCommands", "List of docker commands that form the Dockerfile")
 }
diff --git a/src/sbt-test/docker/alias/build.sbt b/src/sbt-test/docker/alias/build.sbt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6db90ca2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/sbt-test/docker/alias/build.sbt
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+enablePlugins(JavaAppPackaging)
+
+name := "docker-alias-test"
+
+version := "0.1.0"
+
+dockerAlias := DockerAlias(None, None, "docker-alias-test", Some("0.1.0"))
diff --git a/src/sbt-test/docker/tag/project/plugins.sbt b/src/sbt-test/docker/alias/project/plugins.sbt
similarity index 100%
rename from src/sbt-test/docker/tag/project/plugins.sbt
rename to src/sbt-test/docker/alias/project/plugins.sbt
diff --git a/src/sbt-test/docker/tag/src/main/scala/Main.scala b/src/sbt-test/docker/alias/src/main/scala/Main.scala
similarity index 100%
rename from src/sbt-test/docker/tag/src/main/scala/Main.scala
rename to src/sbt-test/docker/alias/src/main/scala/Main.scala
diff --git a/src/sbt-test/docker/alias/test b/src/sbt-test/docker/alias/test
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d0f0dfc54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/sbt-test/docker/alias/test
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# Stage the distribution and ensure files show up.
+> docker:publishLocal
+$ exec bash -c 'docker run docker-alias-test:0.1.0 | grep -q "Hello world"'
diff --git a/src/sbt-test/docker/build-command/build.sbt b/src/sbt-test/docker/build-command/build.sbt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d40cfc166
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/sbt-test/docker/build-command/build.sbt
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+enablePlugins(JavaAppPackaging)
+
+name := "docker-build-command-test"
+
+version := "0.1.0"
+
+import NativePackagerHelper._
+mappings in Docker ++= directory("src/main/resources/docker-test")
+dockerBuildCommand := Seq("docker", "build", "-t", "docker-build-command-test:0.1.0", "docker-test/")
diff --git a/src/sbt-test/docker/build-command/project/plugins.sbt b/src/sbt-test/docker/build-command/project/plugins.sbt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b53de154c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/sbt-test/docker/build-command/project/plugins.sbt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+addSbtPlugin("com.typesafe.sbt" % "sbt-native-packager" % sys.props("project.version"))
diff --git a/src/sbt-test/docker/build-command/src/main/resources/docker-test/Dockerfile b/src/sbt-test/docker/build-command/src/main/resources/docker-test/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4d8863f2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/sbt-test/docker/build-command/src/main/resources/docker-test/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+FROM busybox
+
+CMD ["echo", "docker build command override test"]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/sbt-test/docker/build-command/test b/src/sbt-test/docker/build-command/test
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d71cae692
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/sbt-test/docker/build-command/test
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# Stage the distribution and ensure files show up.
+> docker:publishLocal
+$ exec bash -c 'docker run docker-build-command-test:0.1.0 | grep -q "docker build command override test"'
diff --git a/src/sbt-test/docker/build-options/build.sbt b/src/sbt-test/docker/build-options/build.sbt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..83afa6191
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/sbt-test/docker/build-options/build.sbt
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+enablePlugins(JavaAppPackaging)
+
+name := "docker-build-options-test"
+
+version := "0.1.0"
+
+dockerBuildOptions := dockerBuildOptions.value ++ Seq("-t", "docker-build-options-test:0.1.0-random-tag")
diff --git a/src/sbt-test/docker/build-options/project/plugins.sbt b/src/sbt-test/docker/build-options/project/plugins.sbt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b53de154c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/sbt-test/docker/build-options/project/plugins.sbt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+addSbtPlugin("com.typesafe.sbt" % "sbt-native-packager" % sys.props("project.version"))
diff --git a/src/sbt-test/docker/build-options/src/main/scala/Main.scala b/src/sbt-test/docker/build-options/src/main/scala/Main.scala
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..61471c658
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/sbt-test/docker/build-options/src/main/scala/Main.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+object Main extends App {
+  println("Hello world")
+}
diff --git a/src/sbt-test/docker/build-options/test b/src/sbt-test/docker/build-options/test
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2159252ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/sbt-test/docker/build-options/test
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# Stage the distribution and ensure files show up.
+> docker:publishLocal
+$ exec bash -c 'docker run docker-build-options-test:0.1.0 | grep -q "Hello world"'
+$ exec bash -c 'docker run docker-build-options-test:0.1.0-random-tag | grep -q "Hello world"'
diff --git a/src/sbt-test/docker/tag/build.sbt b/src/sbt-test/docker/tag/build.sbt
deleted file mode 100644
index ac356f427..000000000
--- a/src/sbt-test/docker/tag/build.sbt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-enablePlugins(JavaAppPackaging)
-
-name := "docker-tag-test"
-
-version := "0.1.0"
-
-dockerTag := "docker-tag-test:0.1.0"
diff --git a/src/sbt-test/docker/tag/test b/src/sbt-test/docker/tag/test
deleted file mode 100644
index 494dc4226..000000000
--- a/src/sbt-test/docker/tag/test
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-# Stage the distribution and ensure files show up.
-> docker:publishLocal
-$ exec bash -c 'docker run docker-tag-test:0.1.0 | grep -q "Hello world"'
diff --git a/src/sphinx/formats/docker.rst b/src/sphinx/formats/docker.rst
index a7a02498e..6aab79381 100644
--- a/src/sphinx/formats/docker.rst
+++ b/src/sphinx/formats/docker.rst
@@ -115,9 +115,18 @@ Publishing Settings
   ``dockerUpdateLatest``
     The flag to automatic update the latest tag when the ``docker:publish`` task is run. Default value is ``FALSE``.
 
-  ``dockerTag``
-    The tag to be used during build for the resulting image.
-    Defaults to ``[dockerRepository]/[name]:[version]``.
+  ``dockerAlias``
+    The alias to be used for tagging the resulting image of the Docker build.
+    The type of the setting key is ``DockerAlias`.
+    Defaults to ``[dockerRepository/][name]:[version]``.
+
+  ``dockerBuildOptions``
+    Overrides the default Docker build options.
+    Defaults to ``Seq("--force-rm", "-t", "[dockerAlias]")``. This default is expanded if ``dockerUpdateLatest`` is set to true.
+
+  ``dockerBuildCommand``
+    Overrides the default Docker build command.
+    Defaults to ``Seq("docker", "build", "[dockerBuildOptions]", ".")``.
 
 Tasks
 -----